Ever since 1835, when a woman known as Madam Tussaud first opened her museum of wax figures to the public, wax museums have remained popular with folks eager to get an up-close glimpse of the famous and the infamous. And while earlier museums focused on mostly historical figures, Movieland offered a unique opportunity to get within inches of the elusive Hollywood celebrity.

During its 43 years of operation, Movieland Wax museum delighted visitors with wax representations of over 300 movie stars, from all eras of the film and television industry. Equally impressive were the elaborate sets surrounding the figures; detailed scenes from the movies and shows that made them famous. Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn stood side by side aboard “The African Queen”, Charlton Heston stood bravely upon his Roman Chariot, and the cast of Star Trek inhabited the elaborate bridge of the starship Enterprise, complete with blinking lights and space age electronic beeps. Many of the wax figures wore the original costumes from their respective movies, adding another level of authenticity to the displays.

Guests would enter the museum, get their picture with a likeness of George Burns (available for purchase at the end of the tour), then proceed to walk through a number of slightly frigid hallways (heat and wax figures don’t mix well), going from scene to scene and snapping pictures aplenty. And while some of the likenesses left a bit to be desired, others were stunningly realistic in their detail, especially their eerily lifelike eyes. Each set included a movie-style clapboard that provided dates and additional information for each scene. Sets were further enhanced through the use of sound effects and music to help guests feel as if they were actually a part of the scene.

For the fans of scary movies, the museum also offered a not-quite-so-scary section called “The Chamber of Horrors”. Here, among the dimly lit, cobweb infested corridors, you could encounter scenes from the horror genre such as Frankenstein’s laboratory and the bedroom containing the demonically possessed Linda Blair from “The Exorcist”, complete with revolving head, of course.
 
Once the largest wax museum in the United States, Movieland opened to much fanfare in 1962, in Buena Park, CA, just a stone’s throw from the amusement park, Knott’s Berry Farm. Movie star, Mary Pickford, dedicated the museum at a star-studded ceremony attended by such movie legends as Jimmy Stewart, Buster Keaton, and Mae West. Throughout the years, it became commonplace for celebrities to show up and dedicate their statues to the museum.

Movieland didn’t do much in the way of marketing, other than offering brochures to the many local motels, and after many years of operation and millions of visitors, finally closed its doors in 2005. Many of the figures found their way to other wax museums, while others were auctioned off. And like so many former landmarks, the site was turned into yet another shopping center, as if one was needed.

Of course, there are many other wax museums still in operation for the fans of wax, including the Hollywood Wax Museum, just a few miles north. All pale in comparison however to the unique splendor that was Movieland, where the common man could mingle with the celebrities and for a few hours, at least, feel like they were a part of their favorite films. For those that had the opportunity to visit, Movieland will indeed be missed.